Latest Gadget Thanko

You would think at first glance that the notion of having a heater or fan in your keyboard is a little silly. Of course, if you do a lot of typing during the day or night, keeping your hands and fingers happy doesn’t seem that silly of a notion at all.

That is why latest gadget electronics maker Thanko has come up with a USB keyboard that not only includes a fan to keep your hands cooler in the summer months, but it also features a built-in heater to keep your digits toasty warm during the Winter. Now granted, this USB keyboard is a little thicker than your standard variety. Also unlike most keyboards, this one requires the use of an extra USB port just for the heating and cooling components.

But, if you consider hand comfort to very important, then you might want to give the latest gadget USB Heater Cooler Keyboard a try. It is expected to be sold soon at Thanko run, RareMonoShop and should be priced somewhere around $50.

more info here

Homer Simpson Toy Gadget

Homer Simpson is one of the quirkier cartoon characters who have endeared himself to millions of people, and it is no surprise that the Simpsons marketing juggernaut does not stop at just home video releases (or should I say, home Blu-ray releases to keep up with the times?). This Etch-A-Sketch toy gadget takes the form of Homer’s head - at least a portion of it. His brow area contains a screen for your kid to explore his/her imagination, while turning Homer’s eyes will let you strat off on a clean slate. $19.99 for that toy gadget sounds like a pretty decent price for Simpsons material.

original info here

iPhone Users Get GarageBand Ringtones

iPhone users with crappy bands will rejoice today, as the recently released GarageBand 4.1.1 update adds easy ringtone exporting. Users have full access to Apple Loops and iLife jingles—as well as their own recordings—to export tracks. Here's the full procedure:


1. Start a crappy band.
2. Meet twice a week to argue whether you are going for a sound reminiscent of the Beatles pre or post Sgt. Pepper.
3. Lose your lead singer who is starting a solo career.
4. Say "fuck vocals, it's all about jamming anyway."
5. Hire a random Hooters waitress for the part in a moment of weakness when you'd had too many to drink and wondered why you were starting a band at age 37.
6. Regret signing tone-deaf Hooters waitress.
7. Fire waitress.
8. Get hummer in back seat.
9. Realize that waitress isn't such a bad singer after all.
10. Record your song in Garageband.
11. Set up a cycle region that covers the area you wish to use in the GarageBand song.
12. Once the cycle area has been set, choose Share > Send Ringtone to iTunes.
13. Find out that the drummer's been "hitting that shit, too."
14. Refuse to pay for the baby—there's no proof it's yours.
15. It's totally yours.
16. Break up with band/waitress.
17. Move to Alaska.
18. Get a call from a special someone you hadn't thought about in some time...a ringer you hadn't heard in ages.
19. Decide to get the band, and relationship, back together.
20. Find out the drummer is "still hitting that shit."

MSKYO Granny Ghetto Blaster Gives Loads of Oom-pah but No Oomph

From Germany comes MSKYO, the speaker that allows your granny to buy her cauliflower and mince at the market while listening to Snoop Doggy Dogg at full volume. This portable ghetto blaster has, according to their creators, "incredible sounds quality." For its $3,900 (2.656,50 euros) price tag, it better be truly amazing no matter if I put my sardines and vegetables in it. I like. Jetz kaufen,

S5 "Poor Man's LoJack" Tracking Chips Will Run for Four Years, Cost $2, Weigh Nothing

When Spidey tosses one of those sticky spiders to a getaway car, suspicious villain or hot chick he plans to stalk rescue later, we take for granted that the tracking chip inside is going to work right? Wireless-technology developer S5 plans to deploy a network of receivers in cities, so that its tiny $2 transmitter chip's unlicensed 915MHz signal can be triangulated wherever it comes from, indoors or out. You'll probably recognize this as a sort of inverted GPS—and also as an infrastructure nightmare—but there are reasons why this harebrained scheme just might work:

Besides the chip's extraordinarily small size and price—$2 though the module itself will cost $7—the main boast is that it will be able to be spotted wherever there is a network of receivers, whether the chip itself is indoors or out. S5 is cautious about managing expectations though: the claim is "accurate location equivalent to GPS."

What's more interesting still is the battery life, which S5 says can last up to four years. That is a stark contrast to current GPS trackers, which need to be charged regularly to be functional.

The trick will be getting enough people to adopt the technology, which is why it's giving away the design of the chip itself, royalty free. The company intends to charge money on the service itself, at somewhere around $1 per month.

The S5 vision is lightweight tags on everything from cats to cars to crates, but they gotta get cracking on that network if the thing will ever happen. According to the company, "several" cities will get S5 receiver towers next year, with 35 cities within three years. Even then, if you want to hide, you just have to drive to the outskirts of town, like the Dukes of Hazzard used to do.

I leave you with some final caveats from the S5 website:
• "Four-years is the approximate life of a 2100 mAh battery when the tag transmits every 30 minutes. "
• "Actual coverage will depend on service availability and network coverage by city."
• "This is an estimated price based on a number of factors, including estimated manufacturing volume and a basic set of features and is subject to change at any time."

High Speed Laser Kills Virus Without Damaging Healthy Cells

A new high speed pulsing laser developed by Arizona State physics professor Kong-Thon Tsen and his son Shaw-Wei Tsen, a pathology student at Johns Hopkins, has succeeded in killing a common virus without damaging the healthy surrounding cells. The laser utilizes the principle of "forced resonance" by vibrating the shell of a virus to "crack" it. Plus, tests have proven that it is possible to break down the shells at energies far lower than those needed to damage surrounding T-cells.

Since these ultrashort-pulse lasers or USPs don't generate a lot of heat, they are far gentler than conventional lasers, which may open up the possibility of using them to eradicate viruses in stored blood. The duo is currently testing the laser on HIV and hepatitis, which could be truly groundbreaking if successful. Will this physics professor and his biologist son restore my faith in medical science? Only time will tell.

TechFaith Launches "World's First WCDMA/GSM Dual Mode Phone"

China's TechFaith Wireless Communication Company has developed what they are calling the "World's first WCDMA/GSM dual mode phone." The "Twins" phone, as it has been dubbed, allows users the option of loading one WCDMA card and one GSM or loading dual GSM SIM cards. That means it would no longer be necessary to switch out SIM cards or carry around two phones for calls on both business and personal lines.

Other features include: a 2.0 megapixel camera, 2.8" touch sensitive TFT-LCD display, 256MB/64MB ROM memory, MP3 and MPEG4 player, WCDMA modem, Bluetooth, and video call capabilities. Two models will be available the "Dragonfly" and "OMAP' with the latter having a faster CPU and tri-band network support instead of quad-band. Naturally, no pricing information has been released, which is just as well seeing as how this product is unlikely to make its way to the states anytime soon.

NEC shows off cloth antenna: receives OTA, clears nostrils

We've seen some pretty outrageous looking antennas in our day, but NEC could have a hit on its hands with this newfangled cloth iteration. Granted, details are still hazy, but apparently this device can receive OTA TV signals and double as a handkerchief if you so desire. Reportedly, the firm has lined the cloth triangles with a "special metal" that can pick up broadcasted signals, and it's already thinking about integrating this into tents and other outdoor equipment. Additionally, this could certainly take wearable electronics to a new level if it were woven into one's garb (walking televisions, anyone?), but sadly, there's no word as to when (or if) this technology will hit the mainstream.

Logitech Classic Keyboard 200 for Nintendo Wii use

Why on earth would anybody want a keyboard for the Wii gaming system. Well I have a Nintedo Wii but I don’t use it to chat or surf the internet. The Wii remoted is good enough as you can point directly on the TV screen to type in your names or codes. That would be a safer way to prevent RSI on tired fingers. But just in case you need a good keyboard, try the new Logitech Classic Keyboard 200 for Nintendo Wii use.

NOA Design's Tub Lounger Concept Merges Relaxation With Relaxation

We like to relax in the bath and chill out reading magazines in the lounge. So, why not do both together? If NOA Design's concept ever sees the light of day, we may be doing just that. The super lounger consists of chair submerged in the main tank, with a tap feature that has an integrated halogen lamp. Inexplicably, a built in lavatory is missing. The ultimate de-stress contraption gets the imagination to work and makes us think of annoying slang—no we won't "chillax." That's not even a word! Great, now we need to take a bath and kickback in our lounge to overcome the annoyance. That is going to take ages; if only we could do both at the same time...wait...

Lightning Round - Belkin Sport Armband Plus

The Gadget: Belkin Sport Armband Plus. It's Belkin's newest iPod armband for exercising (we tested with 3G Nano).

The Price: $29.99

The Verdict: We're quite happy after a week of use with the Sport Armband Plus. Constructed of a high quality, wet suitesque material, the band sticks well to your skin—but absolutely perfectly after a few minutes of working out. The cord capsule looked like a complete pain in the ass, but a unique rubber case design allows you to flip the entire capsule open, wrap your cord, and flip it back within moments. Sure you get some glare on the screen and the Nano has a propensity to fit just off its center, but the Belkin is comfortable, functional and, need I say, fashionable? (Check it, along with sweet farmer tan).

The Catch(es): The case doesn't make room for the Nike+iPod sports kit. So users need to stick their iPod in upside down and leave a chunk sticking out. This is actually not that big of a deal since it leaves the iPod right side up for a runner's viewing (you need to wear the iPod upside down to read it on your arm, why this isn't Belkin's default positioning is beyond us). Confused? Exactly. You shouldn't have to think this hard. That's why you pay $30.

Given that many people interested in this product are also using the Nike add-on, we wish Belkin would release a Nike-compatible version.

The Verdict Part II: Pending the buyer is prepared for the above caveats, we'd recommend the Sport Armband Plus.
[Source]

Life Size Animated Princess Leia Statue for You to Defile

This five-foot-tall statue of an animated version of Princess Leia is certainly a unique collectible for any Star Wars fan. However, things can get real weird real fast if you start touching it impurely. So keep your hands to yourself. Available for $799.99 starting in May 2008.

Google to Lay Own Transpacific Cable, Furthering Benevolent World Domination

Google is not leaving anything to chance, and according to an Australian newspaper is now planning to span the Pacific Ocean with its own undersea fiber optics cable to blast the world with its do-no-evil goodness. Owning a fat pipe like this will make Google the Big Dick of the high seas, making it cheaper for the company to move data and to dominate all those other weasels that are selling internet bandwidth.
Let's hope Google's alleged entry into this bandwidth biz will bring prices down, because with the way things stand now, even though there's a glut of dark fiber spanning the Pacific, the stubborn owners of all that potential bandwidth aren't budging on their too-high prices. Do it, Google, and get going on that wireless carrier threat you made, too! Teach the rest of the world your catchphrase: "Don't be evil."

Ladies' Facial Shaver Makes me Say "Whoaaa"

This, my friends, National's Ferie facial shaver for ladies, available on Amazon Japan. It's got two interchangeable blades, one for trimming your eyebrows, the other for "downy hair" (as opposed to "uppy hair," I guess.) I don't see anything wrong with a quick pluck, so this is not one for me — although I can think of some alternative uses for it:
1. Tagging TFSU on Jesus's chest while he sleeps.
2. Getting mediaeval on jumper fluff.
3. Trimming my bonsai lawn.
4. Creating a hair-don't for the dog.
5 @%*& — no, that's just rude. -Addy Dugdale

Government Retreats From Manhunt 2 Controversy

The government has decided not to cross machetes with the passionate gamers that think Manhunt 2 should not be banned because adults deserve the right to make their own choices.

Just like it did recently with the BBC iPlayer fiasco, the government has abdicated full responsibility to the body in charge, in this case the BBFC.

It has responded to the 3,000-strong signature petition on the Prime minister’s Web site. That’s about all though since it merely reaffirmed its trust in the BBFC’s decision. After all, to come out in favour of Manhunt 2 would probably lead to politicians being bludgeoned to death with prams and breadsticks by concerned mums the nation-over. This is what it said:

“The BBFC considered Manhunt 2 and concluded that, within the current guidelines, it could not be given a classification. The BBFC takes its responsibilities very seriously and it uses its powers to reject works extremely rarely. Details can be found on its website. There is an appeals procedure which the game's producers are apparently pursuing.

The Government is satisfied with the BBFC's procedure and with the provisions for appeal, and will not be intervening in this process. The Government has recently announced a review aimed at helping parents ensure that their children are protected from exposure to inappropriate material in games. This is not intended to restrict the choice of material available to adults.”

The BBFC is expected to make a final decision on Manhunt 2 in the coming months.

Ripple Note Notebook for Stylish Users

Korean company Pixel Labs has a “Ripple Note” laptop that has a particular texture on the outside shell that gives it a “luxurious” look.

The inside is rather plain and comparable to its other notebook cousins:

- Intel Core 2 Duo T7500
- 1.3 Megapixel webcam
- 3 USB Ports (still better than my Vaio SZ)
- Improved WiFi-g connectivity

I think that it is a little “fatty” and that Pixel Labs needs to do it on a slimmer laptop. Price: $1300.

Military-Grade USB Key

Iron Key has a USB key for “enterprise and military” applications. Enterprise, because it is using hardware encryption and military because it’s rugged, thanks to its shock and water resistant casing. From the website:

“A password is used to unlock your IronKey, and this is verified in hardware. If an IronKey is lost or stolen, attempts to unlock or tamper with the IronKey will trigger a self-destruct sequence, ensuring data is kept confidential.”

And I guess that in a life-or-death situation, throwing the key to the adversary’s face could even save your life.

Sony Ericsson readies new accessories

Sony Ericsson has been pretty busy lately, recently launching the "Hearty Red" color for its DS-220 Bluetooth headset and MPS-70 audio system. Not only that, there is the MBS-100 Bluetooth speaker that comes in the shape of a football for those living in Europe. No further specifications concerning the speaker are available, but do expect it to come with some decent audio performance as well as the option to run off AC power or battery.

New Four-Legged Robot - New4LR

A German University (Technische Universität Darmstadt) is working on an Aibo-like robot that will come with an open-source software development kit (SDK). It is currently aimed at researchers and enthusiasts, but it is possible that someone will turn it into a product down the line. It is powered by two AMD Geode 500Mhz processors and is called “New4LR” (they don’t say, but Old4LR seem to refer to the Aibo).

Optimus OLED Keyboard in The Wild

This image has popped on the web and shows the first image (to my knowledge) of the much hyped Optimus Maximus Keyboard designed by Art. Lebedev Studio in Russia.

If you’re have followed the saga, the Optimus keyboard is unique in that each key is made of an organic LED (OLED) display that can be software-configured to adapt to any language and any applications. The idea appeared in 2005, and had episodic drama like rumors of going monochrome or imminent shipping date.

It is expensive: $1564 (1256Euros).